Fragile Longing

"Be my wife for 365 days, and your father's debt will vanish, a burden lifted from your family. Be Mrs. Urquio for one year, and your brother will be free." The words hung heavy in the air, a proposition both cruel and strangely alluring. Manuela Iriz Ibañez, her heart already given to another, found herself drawn into the dangerous orbit of Uno Juaquin Urquio, a powerful and enigmatic mafia boss. Could a marriage forged in necessity blossom into something unexpected, a tender flame ignited in the heart of darkness? Their year-long contract, a fragile truce between duty and desire, would be tested by relentless trials. Yet, amidst the shadows and uncertainty, a fragile hope flickered – the possibility of a love story defying all odds, a love born not of choice but of a desperate, breathtaking gamble.

Having survived the deadly trials of Lyria and uncovered the haunting legacy of her ancestors, Maerwynn now faces a reality far more terrifying—a war brewing beyond the realms. She has transformed into a powerful being, but with her newfound immortality and role as the seventh stone, Maerwynn’s existence holds the key to maintaining Lyria's fragile peace. Alongside Valen, the Elusive High Lord who ignites both fury and passion within her, Maerwynn must wield her powers in ways she never imagined. Yet as they prepare for war against Kyante, the cruel queen of Hadeon, Maerwynn realizes that victory comes with perilous demands. A prophecy looms over her, foretelling betrayal, sacrifice, and a battle that will reshape everything she has come to cherish. As enemies close in and allies grow suspicious of her power, Maerwynn and Valen embark on a treacherous journey to build alliances, reclaim a weapon of immense strength, and face the horrors of Hadeon’s armies. Amidst bloodshed and treachery, In this heart-wrenching climax, Maerwynn makes an impossible choice that will forever alter her, the High Lord she loves, and the fate of both worlds. *** BOOK 2 in the AETHER series. If you haven't read the Book 1- " Court of Fae and ruin", please do so, or nothing in this book would make sense. Xoxo

Aria was born wrong—an impure wolf with no pack, no status, and no future. After her father’s death, she became little more than a servant in her own home, hated by her stepmother and treated like a burden. So when a stranger offers a generous dowry for her hand, Aria is sold like cattle. Her stepmother assumes he’s just another desperate rogue looking for a mate. She couldn’t be more wrong. Alpha Draven—The Shadow Alpha—is the most feared name in the werewolf world. Ruthless. Dominant. Untouchable. And he didn’t marry Aria for love. On their wedding night, he lays out the truth: He doesn’t want her heart. He doesn’t want her loyalty. He wants an heir. Aria refuses to be used. But when Draven threatens to expose her impurity and destroy the fragile life she has left, she’s forced into a chilling agreement—bear his child, and he’ll give her protection for life. But in the shadow of power, nothing is ever that simple. He wanted her womb. He never expected her fire. She agreed to carry his heir— She might just carry his downfall.

She became the price of her father’s mistake. Now she belongs to the devil himself. Chiara Ricci’s life was quiet—small-town, under-the-radar, and barely hanging together. But when her father's hidden debts come crashing down, she's thrown into the world of Dante Sabatini—the cold, calculated mafia don who offers a single solution: Her. As payment. He’s ruthless, dangerously charming, and makes no apologies for the way he claims her—as his property, his responsibility... his obsession. Chiara was supposed to be a bargaining chip. But in Dante’s arms, the lines between hate and heat blur fast. Now she’s caught between fear and fascination, craving the man who owns her while longing to be free of him. But there are rules in his world. And the first? Don’t fall in love with the monster who owns your soul.

“Standing in a wedding dress meant for her sister, Naomi Hayes felt like an imposter.” Shy, soft-spoken, and always overshadowed by her glamorous sister Charlotte, Naomi never imagined her life would take such a dramatic turn. When Charlotte vanishes to chase love and wealth, Naomi is forced into an arranged marriage with the cold and ruthless billionaire, Damian Cross—a man who makes it painfully clear that she is nothing but a poor substitute for the bride he truly wanted. Thrown into Damian’s opulent but icy world, Naomi endures his disdain, her family’s relentless demands, and the whispers of betrayal that haunt their every interaction. Yet, beneath Damian’s ruthless exterior lies a storm of secrets and enemies, none more dangerous than Evan Reid—his greatest rival and the man Charlotte left with. Caught between two powerful men at war, Naomi becomes a pawn in a high-stakes game that threatens to destroy Damian’s empire and her fragile place in his life. But as their lives collide in unexpected ways, Naomi discovers an unyielding strength she never knew she had. When passion and vulnerability crack Damian’s icy facade, Naomi begins to wonder if there’s more to him than meets the eye—or if she’s risking her heart for a man who may never truly love her. What happens when betrayals come to light? When Naomi faces a choice between loyalty to her sister or the man who has both hurt and protected her? To find out what happens next, read this gripping story of love, redemption, and resilience. Let the unexpected twists and unforgettable characters keep you turning the pages.

“As they say, there's always a thin line between love and hate. “Ethan Frost,a 27-year -old billionaire and the powerful owner of Nexus Global International , One of New York City's largest companies . Ethan commands attention with his presence, sending chills down the spine of those nearby. Ethan frost-a name that commands power making him every woman’s dream yet everyone’s nightmare. Haunted by emotional and physical scars, he’s driven, ambitious, and emotionally guarded. Despite his good looks, he often uses others' weaknesses to his advantage. You could say he's a devil disguised in angel’s form. Juliana Adams, a 23-year-old orphan with brown skin and an average height of 5’5 . She is a ray of sunshine in a world that has never favored her. Julianna did multiple part time jobs to make ends meet. Guarded and resilient, she is unwilling to give love a second chance, determined to protect her heart from past hurt. But what happens when fire meets water ? After a series of heated encounters marked by mutual hatred, fate intervenes when Julianna secures a position at Nexus Global International.Their paths collide, forcing them to confront their animosity. Rumors about Ethan’s sexuality spread, threatening his public image and the company’s reputation. In a moment of desperation, Ethan presents Julianna with a proposal that intertwines their lives in unexpected ways. Bound by a deal they don't fully understand, their mutual hatred threatens to overshadow the fragile agreement that binds them. Will two wounded souls be the ruin of each other, or will they mend each other’s broken hearts? Get ready for a rollercoaster of emotions filled with twists as these two opposing worlds collide in a realm where desire is forbidden and love may be the ultimate downfall.

On the highway, a chain-reaction crash happened out of nowhere. I was left with a fractured skull, barely hanging on. When my husband—who's a well-known respiratory specialist—showed up, he didn't even look at me. He rushed past, straight to his first love. She had nothing more than a scrape on her arm. I tried to call out for help, but he just turned and looked at me like I was being dramatic. "You're fine. Don't act like you're so fragile," he snapped, brushing me off like my pain didn't matter. At the hospital, things only got worse. He used his position to get every bit of attention, monopolizing the medical staff, and as my supposed sole family member, he signed the papers to abandon my treatment. "It's just a fractured skull," he said, sounding totally calm. "Save the woman in my arms first. She's a renowned painter. She's more important." As I started to lose consciousness, his muttered words cut through the fog, "You're better off dead. We don't want anyone knowing about Leona's drunk driving."

This book contains themes and content not suitable for readers under 18. *** When Russian mafia heir Andrei Dostoevsky attends a secret underground auction in Istanbul, Turkey, he intends only to recover a priceless Rembrandt for his father's collection. Instead, he impulsively purchases Zane Knightly—a fierce, strikingly beautiful young man paraded as human art. Bought and all but imprisoned in Andrei’s isolated Russian mansion, Zane vows to resist as he plots his escape and probable revenge, but each battle of wills fans the spark between them into an uncontrollable inferno. Trapped between hatred and longing, Zane's plan for escape unravels as forbidden emotions take hold. As Andrei’s obsession with Zane grows, he defies his father’s brutal expectations—risking death to claim Zane not as a possession, but as something far more dangerous: a partner. In a world where love is weakness, Andrei and Zane must decide if they are each other's salvation—or each other’s ruin.

In the heart of a modern metropolis lies Elysium, an exclusive BDSM club where the wealthy and powerful shed their masks and surrender to forbidden desires. By night, behind velvet curtains and gilded cages, Dominants and submissives dance in a dangerous symphony of pleasure and pain. Shadows of Desire follows a cast of lost souls drawn into Elysium’s seductive orbit: a newcomer aching to submit, a jaded Master with a dark past, a cunning Dominatrix guarding her secrets, a switch torn between roles, and a voyeur hungry for more than just watching. As decadent play turns to emotional entanglement, bonds of trust deepen – until whispers of betrayal begin to echo through the opulent chambers. In this world of consensual extremes, where ecstasy and agony blur, one hidden traitor threatens to destroy the sanctuary that binds them all. Secrets, obsessions, and power collide in a fast-paced, darkly seductive romance. Will love and loyalty survive when the truth comes to light, or will the betrayal lurking in the shadows shatter the fragile trust that holds Elysium together?

She loved him in silence. From the moment she could remember, Sophia Thomas had watched Daniel Harper — her older brother Nathan’s golden-boy best friend — from afar. He was everything: charming, confident, kind. And to him? She was just “Nathan’s little sister.” At fifteen, she tried not to care. Tried not to notice how his smile lit up a room or how his laughter made her heart race. But when Daniel comes home from college and agrees to tutor her in math, Sophia realizes something painful: She never stopped loving him. As they spend more time together, buried feelings begin to surface — on both sides. What starts as stolen glances and quiet longing turns into late-night talks, shared secrets, and moments neither of them expected. But there are rules: - Don’t fall for your brother’s best friend. - Don’t let him see you as anything more than family. - Don’t believe he’ll ever feel the same. Too late.